Eli Lilly Lawsuit

Eli Lilly is being sued by plaintiffs who suffered severe side effects after using Mounjaro®, Zepbound® and Trulicity®. The lawsuits claim that Eli Lilly knew that these medications could cause injuries and did not inform consumers and doctors.

Most of the lawsuits against Eli Lilly concern Mounjaro and Zepbound, which have the same active ingredient, tirzepatide. Injured parties allege tirzepatide causes serious health problems not listed or adequately described on the prescribing label. 

Similar claims have been made against Eli Lilly’s co-defendant, pharmaceutical maker Novo Nordisk, for its medications containing semaglutide. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic® and Wegovy®. These health issues include gastrointestinal injuries and gastroparesis (stomach paralysis).

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is FDA-approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is not approved for weight loss, though some doctors may prescribe it off-label for this purpose. The active ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide.

It is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and dual GLP-1/gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) receptor agonist drug. Mounjaro was the first GLP-1/GIP RA approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.  GLP-1/GIP RAs mimic natural hormones that help the body regulate blood sugar. 

They work by:

• Triggering the pancreas to release insulin
• Blocking the secretion of glucagon, a hormone the body uses to raise blood sugar levels when needed
• Slowing stomach emptying
• Increasing feelings of fullness after eating (satiety)

Patients inject Mounjaro once a week in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. Mounjaro lawsuits address severe personal injuries caused by the side effects of the drug.

What is Zepbound?

Zepbound is another brand name for the GLP-1/GIP RA drug tirzepatide. Zepbound is the same medication as Mounjaro, though the two have slightly different dosing recommendations. However, Zepbound is approved by the FDA to treat obesity and manage weight.

Like Mounjaro, patients administer Zepbound via a once-weekly injection in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Zepbound lawsuits, like Mounjaro lawsuits, allege that tirzepatide’s dangerous side effects severely injured patients. 

What is Trulicity?

Trulicity is another GLP-1 RA drug made by Eli Lilly. It is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes. It is also approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events (like heart attack and stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes, established cardiovascular disease and other cardiovascular risk factors. It is not approved for weight loss.

Trulicity’s active ingredient is dulaglutide, which is different from tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound. It has its own dosage recommendations but is also a once-weekly injectable.

Trulicity’s users experience many of the same side effects as Mounjaro and Zepbound, including side effects not included on the drug’s label.

Injured parties allege Mounjaro and Zepbound have caused them or someone they love severe or fatal side effects from GLP-1/GIP RAs. Plaintiffs claim that Eli Lilly knew or should have known about the harms caused by these drugs and did not issue adequate warnings.

Medical conditions linked to tirzepatide, semaglutide and other GLP-1 RAs include deep vein thrombosis leading to pulmonary embolism, severe gastrointestinal injuries, ileus and vision loss. Read more about the conditions below.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Research indicates that GLP-1 RA medications can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). One study found that using semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) may increase this risk by up to 266%.

DVT is the occurrence of a blood clot in one or more of the body’s deep veins, usually in the legs. The condition can be fatal if the clot breaks loose and becomes lodged in the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE). 

Gastrointestinal issues and gastroparesis

Severe gastrointestinal disease is included under Warnings and Precautions on the labels for Mounjaro and Zepbound. The labels also mention delayed stomach emptying as a drug interaction but don’t warn specifically about gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) is a severe and permanent medical condition that occurs when the stomach does not properly empty. Gastroparesis can cause pain, bloating, severe dehydration, malnutrition and decreased quality of life. It can also cause a serious and possibly fatal blockage in the intestines or stomach.

Ileus

Ileus is a medical condition that occurs when a lack of normal muscle movement in the intestine prevents food from passing through it. Ileus can create a temporary blockage, and can cause bloating, nausea, vomiting and dehydration. Severe complications of ileus include perforation of the intestinal wall, infection of the abdominal cavity and tissue death (necrosis).

Studies link GLP-1/GIP RAs like Mounjaro and Zepbound with significant increases in the intestinal obstruction rate. Additionally, Zepbound’s label includes a Postmarketing Experience statement informing users that some patients have reported ileus as a side effect of tirzepatide.

Vision loss

Research has linked semaglutide to an increased risk of vision loss caused by nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION occurs when blood flow in the optic nerve is not sufficient, which can lead to nerve damage. Research into the connection between vision loss and GLP-1 RA medications is ongoing. 

If you experience any vision changes while taking Mounjaro, Zepbound or another GLP-1 RA  drug, consult your doctor immediately.

You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against Eli Lilly if you or someone you love has a serious medical condition caused by Mounjaro or Zepbound.
Patients who have used GLP-1 RA medications to treat type 2 diabetes and promote weight loss have experienced severe side effects, including DVT, gastroparesis, ileus and vision loss. 

Motley Rice and co-counsel are representing plaintiffs harmed by Eli Lilly. Motley Rice is also representing patients injured by Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 including Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus®. 

A lawyer with Motley Rice can tell you more about whether you qualify to file a weight loss or diabetes lawsuit. It is important to discuss your legal options before any applicable statutes of limitations expire.

There have been several important updates in the Eli Lilly GLP-1/GIP RA lawsuit since the start of 2024, including:

• January 2025: More claims were added to the MDL against Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, bringing the number to 1,331. The MDL will continue to add claims from plaintiffs injured by GLP-1 RA drugs.
• August 2024: The court granted the MDL defendants’ early discovery and motion practice on two issues. One was on the reliability of gastroparesis diagnostic testing. The other was on the adequacy of the warning labels provided by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
• July 2024: New research linked Ozempic to vision loss. In the same month, the court issued a direct filing order. This order allowed plaintiffs to file their case directly with the MDL to eliminate potential delays. The total number of claims filed exceeds 100.
• June 2024: U.S. District Judge Karen Marston was assigned to the MDL after the case’s original judge, Judge Gene E.K. Pratter, died suddenly in May.  
• May 2024: Motley Rice attorney Jonathan Orent was appointed Co-Lead Counsel for the MDL’s Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee. Attorney Sara Couch of Motley Rice was named Chair of the Marketing Discovery Committee for the PEC.
• February 2024: Attorneys, including Jonathan Orent, successfully argued for the creation of the GLP-1/GIP RA in the United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

If you or someone you loved suffered harm because of a GLP-1 medication manufactured by Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk, you can still join the lawsuit. You may be able to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. 

Is there a class action lawsuit against Eli Lilly?

No, there is no class action lawsuit concerning GLP-1 RA side effects against Eli Lilly. However, litigation against the pharmaceutical company is being consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

• Class action lawsuits combine claims into a single case. Plaintiffs are represented by a member of the “class.” Any judgment rendered applies to all members.
• Multidistrict litigation (MDL) temporarily consolidates cases for pretrial proceedings. Cases go back to their original district for trial if not settled first. Each plaintiff has their own lawyer and receives an individual judgment. MDLs can streamline the legal process and lessen the burden on plaintiffs and the court. 

Eli Lilly is facing a class action lawsuit concerning insulin pricing. This lawsuit is not related to the GLP-1/GIP RA MDL. This case addresses complaints against the company for inflating the cost of its insulin drugs. 

Is Eli Lilly suing over compounded tirzepatide?

In June 2024, Eli Lilly filed lawsuits against several med spas, wellness centers and other entities for selling unapproved, compounded tirzepatide. Eli Lilly claims these entities sold these medications under the names Mounjaro and Zepbound, falsely leading consumers to believe they were FDA-approved. 

Pharmacists create compounded drugs by mixing or altering ingredients to produce medication tailored to a specific patient.

If you took a compounded version of tirzepatide or another GLP-1 RA drug, you are not eligible to file a case against Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk. To hold the manufacturers accountable, you have to have taken the drug they manufactured.

What can I do if I’m concerned about Mounjaro and Zepbound?

You should see your doctor immediately if you or someone you love is experiencing side effects from Mounjaro, Zepbound or another GLP-1 RA. Don’t stop taking medications without consulting your physician. 

If you or a loved one has a medical condition linked to tirzepatide, semaglutide or another medication used to treat type 2 diabetes or promote weight loss, reach out to Motley Rice. A lawyer can speak with you about your legal options. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries. 

Our attorneys at Motley Rice have taken leadership roles in numerous cases involving dangerous drugs. If you or your family member suffered an injury caused by Eli Lilly’s GLP-1/GIP RA medications, we can tell you more about joining the Eli Lilly lawsuit. 

We are currently representing plaintiffs in the MDL, which involves medical drugs including:

• Mounjaro
• Ozempic
• Rybelsus 
• Saxenda®
• Trulicity®
• Wegovy
• Victoza®
• Zepbound

Our lawyers know how to handle the complex aspects of dangerous drug cases and will manage all aspects of discovery and trial. Read more on our medical drug litigation experience.

Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor's advice can result in injury or death. Ozempic, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity, Wegovy, Victoza and Saxenda remain approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.